Monday 17 June, a group of young dancers from a Palestinian refugee camp met with refugees now living in Scotland to celebrate the launch of Refugee Week Scotland.

The Lajee Dance group, who live in the overcrowded and insecure Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, performed a traditional Palestinian dance while refugees and local Scots taking part in Here We Stay, a music and spoken word performance piece co-produced by Scottish Refugee Council and the Citizen’s Theatre, performed their title track.

The groups are just two of the many highlights of Refugee Week Scotland. The arts and cultural festival, which features more than 100 events across the country, celebrates refugees’ contribution to Scottish culture.

Many of the young Palestinian dancers have experienced persecution, while refugees from Here We Stay have fled violence and threats to their lives in their home countries.

But the mood on Monday was joyful, as the groups came together to celebrate Scotland’s rich and colourful heritage, the theme of Refugee Week Scotland 2013.

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